speaker recomendations

[stingray_65]

I'm well on my way with my 5E3 clone build.

We are buiding seperate head and speaker cab. The cab will be very similiar in dimention to a narrow face (16 1/2 x 20 x 10)

pretty much have all the inexpensive parts, chasis, jacks and pots, resistors and caps, 3/4 baltic birtch for the cabinet, tolex, speaker cloth, 2 leg corners with and without lips,etc.

still need tubes,transformers and a speaker.

next week I get my quarterly gain share and I know which tubes and transformers I will buy, but the speaker! so many varieties!

I'm building this specificaly for my son for use with a Tele "Partscaster" he and I are assembling.

he plays a lot of Rolling Stones and is a Keith Rchards fan and he's trying to pick up a bit of Tenesee picking.

we're considdering the eminence Red Coat Governer.

its rated at 75 watts though.

I guess thats my first question, is that too much? would it be compatable with the amp?

I see the Red Fang wich seems to have similiar qualities, but its about $50 more.

in between those prices is the Celestion G12H 70th aniversery.

what aout some of these inexpensive speaker I seed like the Jensen MOD or the Celestion Rocket 50?

Someone PLEASE help me get some direction here on which way to go!

[tubeswell]

If I was in the States where everything is more convenient, I'd buy Weber speakers, for the expertise in manufacturing and the range.

I'd also consider the Italian made RI Jensens as they are cheap

Since I can't, I buy eminence or celestion, or whatever used old stuff I can get my hands on for cheap to try out.

I initially had a G12M in my recent 5E3 build but last night I tried it with a 2nd-hand OEM 30W emi that was made for Soldano, and it kicks butt. It still has the growl of a G12 but handles VOLUME much better. The G12M is only 20W and whilst it has a lovely woody charachter at low vols, it can't handle the 5E3 grunt at higher vols. So I am thinking I'll get a G12H30.

IHMO a 75W Governor would probably be too tight to get pushed enough by a pair of cathode biased 6V6s to make any decent wind.

[semitone]

The wattage doesn't matter unless the output of the amp exceeds wattage rating of the speaker for long. With a 5E3 you can use any wattage you want, really.

I'd suggest a speaker that can handle a fair amount of bass, because 5E3 will make lightly-built speakers "fart out."

The speakers you mention would all be fine. However, if you can afford the extra money, an alnico-magnet speaker like the Eminence Red Fang (or even the Weber 12A150) sound really special in a 5E3 or any Tweed amp.

Here's the Weber site, and he's running a sale right now: http://www.tedweber.com/

Best wishes,

semi

[stingray_65]

i've ben at the weber site 4 imes now in two days.

i'm really sold on thier product!

the 12a150 looks like the ticket.

[tubeswell]

The reason I was suggesting not to use a Gov is that I think it is overrated for something like a 5E3. If the speaker is too highly rated watt-wise, the speaker won't get pushed enough to sound good. The sound is too unblemished and lacks responsiveness and the freq response is not what it could be with a speaker that is rated closer to the amps rated output wattage. However this is not a hard and fast thing - just my two cents

[pdf64]

I've got a 12A150, light dope. I was hoping for great things from it but was disappointed. It's robust, there's nothing bad about it, but it's like an OEM generic speaker that doesn't offend but doesn't inspire either. My 57 Gibson GA20 (Gibson's version of a Deluxe) sounds great with, in order of my preference
1/ 61 Jensen P12R (not loud, but a great gnarly tone)
2/ Vox Blue (big volume and tone, jumps out at you)
3/ Cele G12H30 (more rocky than Blue, very solid but can verge on harshness)
4/ Cele Greenback (more laidback than the G12H30, softer top and bottom)
Best for the price is the G12H30.
Email Ted with your tone preferences for his recommendation (he didn't recommend the 12A150 to me, but I had it in my mind that's what I wanted).
Peter.

[cminor9]

"I've got a 12A150, light dope. I was hoping for great things from it but was disappointed."
First, have you broken those speakers in? Don't judge them till you've played them for about 40 hours.

I have a 5E3 clone with a 12A150 and a Ceramic Blue Dog, which is Weber's take on a Celestion Blue. I built the amp as a head with two cabs. I really like playing through both cabs, but if I have to take just one, I prefer the ceramic blue dog. That despite the fact that the alnico 12a150 cost almost twice as much. Both are nice speakers, don't get me wrong. But the blue dog in the 5E3 is just plain fabulous!

All that info to recommend a celestion blue-type speaker. For this, the Weber blue dog is awesome and what I'd recommend.

[cminor9]

The reason I was suggesting not to use a Gov is that I think it is overrated for something like a 5E3. If the speaker is too highly rated watt-wise, the speaker won't get pushed enough to sound good. The sound is too unblemished and lacks responsiveness and the freq response is not what it could be with a speaker that is rated closer to the amps rated output wattage. However this is not a hard and fast thing - just my two cents

As tubeswell said, it's a subjective thing, cause I got 2 50 watt speakers for my 5E3 because I personally *don't* care for the sound of a speaker gasping for life. I prefer my amp providing the "distortion" and the speakers not really sweating. Plus the speakers last longer that way.

[stingray_65]

well i got the weber signature series 12"speaker.

i went the cheap rout but i've read great reviews on this speaker in a 5E3 amp.

hard at work on the speaker cabinet and if it isn't up to par i'm not out much and the whole project isn't on hold for lack of finances.

thank you all for your opinions and direction.